Patient handover education programme based on situated learning theory for nursing students in clinical practice

AIM If not conducted correctly, nursing handover can threaten patient safety, and so nursing students require good handover education. This study evaluated a handover education programme based on situated learning theory in a clinical practicum. METHODS A quasi-experimental design and convenience sampling technique were used. The participants (fourth-grade nursing students recruited from a college in the C province of South Korea) were assigned to an intervention group (n = 38) or a control group (n = 39). A handover education programme that included lectures, expert observations, role playing, peer learning and reflection was received by the intervention group. The control group attended lectures and observed handovers. The handover skills of all participants were tested 2 weeks before and on the last day of the clinical practicum. Handover performance ability, handover clinical judgement ability and handover self-efficacy were outcome variables. RESULTS Significant improvements in handover performance ability, handover clinical judgement ability and handover self-efficacy were observed in the intervention group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION The significance of this study lies in the development and application of a programme based on situated learning theory for handover education. Application of theory-based handover education in clinical practicums is recommended to improve the handover capabilities of nursing students.